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Crop Diversity Benefits: Why Variety is Key to Sustainable Farming

Modern Farmer

One of the key differences between these two examples is the amount of crop diversity present. Increasing the types of crops present in an area can provide numerous ecological and economic benefits. Since the exact type of diversity affects the impacts, its difficult to generalize which benefits result from crop diversity on your land.

Crop 57
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Diversifying rotations for climate change adaptation and mitigation

Agricultural Biodiversity

Bottom line: more crops better. Anthropocene Magazine has a handy summary of recent research into crop diversity on the North China Plain. Bottom line: adding more crops to the current dominant rotation of wheat and maize increases yields and profits, sequesters more carbon in the soil and reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions.

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Understanding pH: Success Stories: Growing Sollutions to Soil pH Challenges

UnderstandingAg

Cropland to Pastureland As discussed in part 2 of this series, many conventional cropping practices acidify the soil unnaturally quickly. of new cropland areas produced yields below the national average, with a mean yield deficit of 6.5%. For them, a temporary break from cropping might be a good option. in some spots.

Acre 97
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The Dirt on Cover Crops

Modern Farmer

What’s cover cropping all about, anyway? As with many eco initiatives, what was old is new again: Cover crops (or fallow season plantings; see more below) were first used during the Roman Empire as a way to boost the soil quality in vineyards. Cover crops refer to vegetation planted in empty fields— covering the soil, get it?—at

Crop 127
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Crop Diversity Benefits: Why Variety is Key to Sustainable Farming

Modern Farmer

One of the key differences between these two examples is the amount of crop diversity present. Increasing the types of crops present in an area can provide numerous ecological and economic benefits. Since the exact type of diversity affects the impacts, its difficult to generalize which benefits result from crop diversity on your land.

Crop 40
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Greens as a Secondary Income from your Cash Crop Plants

ATTRA

Okra Leaves Bush okra or jute mallows are thick, succulent leaves that yield a slimy sauce like okra pods. As farmers who work in unpredictable climates, we know the importance of growing a diverse range of foods and harvesting various parts to make up for times when cash crops are scarce.

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Addressing Compaction During the Regenerative Transition: Part 2

UnderstandingAg

You will just keep experiencing the same symptoms – surface crusting, ruts, wet spots, stunted growth, lost yield, and many others – until you address the underlying cause of the problem, which is poor aggregate formation and the lack of living roots. Selling the ripper and investing the money into well-planned cover crops is a safer bet.

Manure 98